2013 Event A near-earth asteroid, called 99942 Apophis, passes close to Earth; astronomers in Europe estimate 99942 Apophis is larger than previously thought 2012 Event Light from the first stars in the universe is detected by astronomers studying high-energy radiation data; the data suggests these stars existed as early as 500 million years after the 'big bang' 2012 Event Astronomers have identified the nearest planet outside of our Solar System, Alpha Centauri B, which circles its star much closer than Mercury orbits our Sun 2012 Event The discovery of the fifth moon of Pluto, S/2012 P 1, is announced by astronomers 2011 Event Astronomers identify a Trojan asteroid orbiting on the same path as the Earth around the Sun; it poses to danger to Earth because it sits in a gravitational 'sweet spot' 2010 Event Astronomers discover the new galaxy UDFy-38135539, the most distant object observed from earth 2009 Event European astronomers discover 32 extrasolar planets, or exoplanets - planets that orbit a star other than the Sun 1994 Event Dutch and British astronomers find spiral nebula Dwingeloo 1 1989 Event Astronomers discover pulsar in remnants of Supernova 1987A (LMC) 1987 Event Astronomers at University of California see 1st sight of birth of a galaxy 1951 Event Leidse astronomers discover radio signal out of Milky Way system 1793 Birthday Friedrich Struve, Germany, founded dynasty of astronomers 1181 Event Supernova observed by Chinese and Japanese astronomers
